Play some games – and learn about social science

Families are being encouraged to play board games at a free community event.

“The Games People Play” takes place at Common Ground Games in Stirling’s Cowane Street on Saturday 9 November.

It hopes to raise awareness of social science – the term used to describe the study of society and manner in which people behave and influence the world.

Dr Alasdair Rutherford from the University of Stirling has been helping to organise the event. He said: “Board games have come a long way since Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders. You can run a power station, manage a farm or research the cures to deadly diseases to save humanity. And there’s not a computer screen in sight.

“Modern board games provide many examples of exactly the sort of social phenomenon studied by social scientists: cooperation, exchange, reciprocity, self-interest, fairness, inequality, status, hierarchy and many more.

“On 9 November local people will get the chance to try a range of popular board games with social science themes. Experience gamers and social scientists will be on hand to help.

“Whether you are new to board gaming and want to try it out, or an experienced gamer who would like to think differently about some of the games you play, come along to Common Ground Games in Stirling on Saturday 9 November, between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and join in the fun. The event is open to anyone aged eight and over, although anyone under 14 should be accompanied by an adult.”

Tickets are free, but places are limited. Please sign up online to reserve your place. Just visit: http://stir.ac.uk/es

The event has been organised as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science – organised by the Economic and Social Research Council. The Festival aims to offer a fascinating insight into some of the country's leading social science research and how it influences our social, economic and political lives, both now and in the future.